Miles and Miles and Miles

New Odometer Rules

Odometer fraud is a major problem

Recently, my daughter asked for advice on buying a used vehicle. I cautioned her to learn more about odometer fraud issues.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Odometer Fraud site states that odometer fraud is the disconnection, resetting, or alteration of a vehicle’s odometer with the intent to change the number of miles indicated.

NHTSA estimates, based on a 2002 study, that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings.

Thankfully, that 17-year old study got updated on October 2, 2019 in the Federal Register.

AGENCY:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This final rule is issued to fulfill a requirement in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act of 2012 (MAP-21) that NHTSA establish regulations permitting states to adopt schemes that allow electronic odometer disclosure statements in conjunction with electronic titling systems associated with the transfer of interests in motor vehicles. Amendments in this final rule allow odometer disclosures in an electronic medium…